Method and apparatus for treating soles and soles so treated



Aug. 5, 1930. DAVENPQRT ET AL 1,772,038

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOLES AND SOLES SO TREATED Filed July 17, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l1 Jifi 65 Z 114 Wn'nw I.

Aug. 5, 1930.. DAVENPORT ET AL 1,772,038

4 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOLES AND SOLES SO TREATED Filed July 17, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheei 2 ZZZ Z 56 Fig.2. I

Aug. 5, 1930. DAVENPORT ET AL 1.372113% METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOLES AND SOLES SO TREATED Filed July 17-, 1925 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig: 4

. tions of soles, as by Patented Aug. 5, I93@ STAT i? airs ima e P A? T OFF 1 E HERMAN A. DAVENPORT, OF BROCKTON, AND NATHAN r. HOPKINS, or ROGKLAND,

ERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING SOLES AND SOLES SO TREATED Application filed July 17,

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for treating shoe soles and insoles, for convenience also referred to as ,soles, and to soles. lhe invention is herein exemplified with particular reference to treating soles to efi'ect a permanent shaping of the soles and to soles permanently shaped before attachment to shoes.

In the manufacture of many shoes, it is desired to impart a transverse curvature to the shank portions of the soles. In the manufacture of some types of shoes, of which various styles of mens welt shoes furnish a typical example, the desired transverse curvature may be effected initlally by the usual sole molding and leveling operations. Frequently, however, it is desired for style reasons that the margins of a sole in the shank shall lie in close proximity to the upper to roduce what is commonly termed a close shank. It is oftentimes difficult to produce such a close shank effect even initially by the ordinary molding and leveling operations because of the relatively extreme transverse curvatures required, particularly in the soles of womens high arch shoes. Accordmgly, when it is desired to produce the close shank effect, it is common to subject shoes, after the soles have been sewed to the shoes, to a shank breaking operation in which the margins o the shank portions of the soles are beaten into close proximity to the uppers. Welt shoes are also commonly treated before attachment of the outsole to flatten as much as practicable the materials which project at the inseam. Moreover, in respect to some types of shoes, it is not only desired that the shoes present the close shank appearance referred to, but that the shoe soles present a relatively thin edge appearance in the shank, and therefore it has come to be a common practice to reduce the thickness of ,the margins of the shank porskiving the margins. In

' any case, however, it has heretofore been impossible by any of the previously known shaping operations so to treat a sole as to overcome the natural'tendency of the margins of the shank portion to spring away from the upper, and to insure that an initial transverse curvature will be maintained perma- 1925. Serial No. 44,289.

nently during the normal life of the shoe, and this is true whether or not the margins of the shank portion of the sole have been reduced in thickness. Indeed, in womens high arch shoes, even if the margins of the shank portlons of the soles are reduced in thickness, the desired transverse curvature is so extreme that the tendency of the shank portions of the soles to return toward their original flat condition is correspondingly pronounced.

The present invention provides an improved method of treating soles by the use of which it is practicable to obtain readily any desired transverse curvature of the shank portions of the soles, which insures that substantially the initial transverse curvature will be maintained permanently after the soles have been attached to shoes. These results are obtained in the illustrated exemplification of the invention b stretching the margins of the shank portion of the sole relatively to the central part of the shank portion before the sole is attached to a shoe sufficiently to insure that when the sole is attached to the shoe the margins of the shank portion will tend to hug the upper, instead of tending to move away from the upper. For the best results, this treatment of the margins is carried to an extent which stretches the margins beyond the limit of their elastic recovery, although within the limit of their tensile strength, thereby permanently elongating the margins, the sole being preferably thoroughly tempered, that is, thoroughly impregnated with moisture when it is treated.

As herein exemplified, such stretching is accomplished by pressure directed against the margins of the shank portion of a sole in directions generally transverse to the normal plane of the shankportion, while movement of the portionsof the sole adjacent to either end of the shank portion is so controlled as to insure that' the stretching of the margins of the shank portion will be carried beyond the limits of their elastic re-' covery. Preferably too, in addition to the elongation of the margins of the shank, the over-all length of the sole will be increased as a Whole without reducing the thickness and the practice of either of the forepart or of the heel part, the only reduction in thickness being in the shank Where no direct wear comes upon the sole and where, therefore, reduced thickness is not disadvantageous. In this manner, it is practicable to increase the length dimen sion of a given sole sufiiciently to effect a substantial economy of sole leather, thus retaining an important advantage characteristic of the practice of the novel method set forth and claimed in Letters Patent of the II. S. No. 1,552,608, granted Sept. 8, 1925, on an application filed in the names of Hunt and Bertrand, by which invention provision was made for the first time for permanently elongating soles without sacrifice of wearing qualities. Advantageously the desired elon gation of the sole may be obtained by clamping the forepart and the heel part of the sole and then moving the clamped sole ends relatively to each other, as by moving one end perpendicularly to the plane of the other end, the relative offsetting of the two ends of the sole also causing the sole to assume longitudinally the general arch shape required to be appropriate to the height of heel which the shoe is designed to carry. Also, a direct pull may be exerted upon the shank portion of the sole lengthwise of the sole if desired.

It has been found in the molding of soles that the application of molding pressure to the margins of the soles is liable to produce condensed areas or hard spots which interfere, for example, with channeling and sewing operations. On the other hand, considerable pressure is required upon the ends of the sole to control them sufficiently to insure the desired stretching of the margins of the shank portion. In view of these requirements, the present invention, considered in another aspect, provides for subjecting the ends of a sole to as heavy pressure as may be desired without danger of the formation of hard or condensed areas. To this end, in accordance With a feature of the invention, novel mechanism is provided for gripping one or both ends of a sole between surfaces at least one of which is inherently yielding, the gripping surfaces being preferably contoured laterally or longitudinally or both in accordance with the shape it is desired to impart to the ends of the sole. As herein illustrated, one of the forepart clamping surfaces and one of the heel part clamping surfaces comprises a sheet of vulcanized rubber covering forepart and heel part clamping members and extending across the shank portion of the sole, so that the displacement of the margins of the shank is effected by pressure applied through the rubber sheet.

In still another aspect, the invention pro-' Vides a novel sole having the margins of its shank portion permanently elongated relatlvely to the middle portion, having the shank portion as a whole extended beyond its original length, and having its forepart molded and of firm and uniform texture.

These and other features of the invention will appear more fully from the following description when read in connection with. the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of apparatus for use in the practice of the present method;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4: are sectional views similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in different positions for carrying out the steps of the method;

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail of part of the heel end clamping mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the upper members of the sole clamping and stretching means; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a sole before and after treatment by the present method.

An illustrative apparatus by which the method of the present invention may be carried out is shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, in which 10 is a base, 12 and 14: uprights secured to the base, and 16, 18, 20

and 22 are cross pieces for supporting vari-' ous parts of the apparatus. Two upright rods 24: and 26 are mounted for longitudinal movement in bearings in the cross pieces 20 and 22. The lower portion of the rod 24 has a collar 28 threaded thereon. On the upper end of the rod 24: is a thimble 30 having a flange 31 at its lower end, and between the flange 31 and the collar 28 is a stiff spring 82. To limit movement of the rod 24 relatively to the thimble in response to expansive pressure of the spring 32, a pin 34 (Fig. 2) is passed-through the upper end of the rod and engages slots 36 in the walls of the thimble. Any desired initial tension may be applied to the spring 32 by turning the collar 28 to adjust it lengthwise of the rod. On the lower end of the rod 24 is secured in any suitable manner a clamping block 38 the lower face of. which is given the shape which it is desired to impart to the outer face of the forepart of a sole, and to co-operate with it a block 40, supported on the cross piece 18. is provided, the upper surface of which has a shape complementary to that of the lower surface of the block 38.

To prevent the block 38 from'turning out of proper relation to the block 40, a member 12 having its end notched to embrace the rod 26 is held to the thiinble by a split clamp operated by a screw 44. The rod 24: and connected parts are held normally raised with the flange 31 against the cross spring 46. The rod 26 carriers at its lower end a shank forming block 50. A fixed colpiece 22 by a retracting spring 92.

lar 52 on the rod 26 limits upward movement of the rod in response to a retracting spring 54 one end of which is attached to a cross tie rod 21 and the other to a collar 56 adjustably fixed to the rod..26. To prevent rotation of the rod 26 a member 58, notched to embrace a third rod 60, is secured to the rod 26.

The rod 60 has bearings in two blocks 62, 64 secured to a lever 66 which is pivoted at its upper end by a pin (38 to ear pieces 70 secured to the cross piece The lower end of the rod 60 carries a heel end clamping block 72 and is held raised by a spring 74 arranged similarly to the spring 54, a collar 76 being provided to limit its upward movement. Secured to the lever 66 at its lower portion are two bearing blocks 80 and 82 through the upper one, 80, of which passes a rod 84 having at its upper end a clamping member 86 to cooperate with the block 72 in clamping the heel end of the sole. To the rod 84 is pinned a collar 88 between which and a hollow adjusting screw 90 (Fig. 1). threaded in the lower block 82, is a heavv The rod 84 may extend through the spring 92 and into the hollow screw 90. The clamping members 72, 86 are guided in a recess 94 (Fig. 2) formed in the lever (36 which is reinforced by a channel bar 93 secured thereto by bolts 98. Thelever 63 may be swung on its pivot 68 to move the clamping members 7 2 and 8G longitudii'iallv of the sole by a screw 100 threaded through a nut piece 102 secured to the cross piece 11) and engaging the block 82 on the lever (36. The screw 100 may be operated by a hand wheel 104 or in any convenient manner. screw 106 provided with a hand wheel 108 has threaded connection with the upright 14 and engages the lever 66 to prevent its swing too far toward the right (Fig. 1).

The lower surfaces of the clamping blocks 38, and 72 are preferably covered with a sheet 110 of flexible resilient material such as soft vulcanized rubber similar to the material from which inner tubes for tires are made. the margin of the sheet being secured in any suitable manner to the side edge faces of the blocks 38, 72, as by screws 111.

Any suitable means may be provided for operating the rods 24, 26 and 60, and as shown herein (Figs. 1 and 2) a hand lever is arranged so that it can be employed to operate each of them in turn. A sleeve 112 is ar ranged to slide on a transverse shaft 114 supported on the uprights 12, 14. the sleeve forming the fulcrum of a lever the short arm 116 of which is adapted by sliding the sleeve 112 on the shaft 114 to have its end positioned over any one of the rods. The other arm 118 of the lever is relativelylong and is adapted to be raised by hand to depress: the rod over which the short arm 116 is located. "When the short arm 116 of the lever is positioned over the rod 24 and depressed,

to the cross piece it engages the closed end of the thimble 30 and acts through the spring 32 to depress the rod 24, thus moving the block 38 toward the block 40. When the thimble has thus been fully depressed it may be held in position by a stop 120 (Fig. 2) pivoted at 122 22 and arranged to swing into position between the flange 31 and the cross piece 22 to prevent return movement of the thimble. The sleeve 112 may then be moved along the shaft 114 to locate the lever arm 116 over the rod and operated to depress the rod and force the clamping block 72 against the block 86 which will be depressed in opposition to the spring 92. The rod 60 is held depressed by a stop 124 and arranged to be swung between the collar 7 6 on the rod and the block 62 on the lever 66. The lever arm 116 may then be located over the rod 26 and operated to depress the block 50.

In the practice of the method of the present invention by means of the apparatus illustrated, a sole is first thoroughly wet to render it pliable and is then placed, grain face uppermost, with its forepart on the upper surface of the block 40 and its heel part upon the block 86 (Fig. 2). The block 38 carrying the rubber covering pressed as described to press the forepart of the sole between the block 40 and the'rubb'er covering. The complementary faces of the blocks 38 and 40 are preferably curved longitudinally and transversely to give the proner convexity to the forepart of the sole. The block 72 is next depressed in the manner des ribed to cause the heel part of the sole to be 110 is then (18- clamped between the rubber sheet 110 and the block 86, the blocks 7 2 and 86 and the clamped heel part of the sole being then further depressed, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to move the heel part of the sole out of the plane of the forepart and cause the intermediate unclamped portion of Either before or after the displacement of the heel part of the sole out of the plane of the forepart, the screws 100, 106 may be operated to swing the lever 66 to efi'ect stretching and elongation of theunclamped portion of the sole.

The function of the sheet 110 between the sole and the blocks 38, 72 is to compensate for any slight inequality in the thickness of the sole or any lack of correspondence between the clamping surfaces of the blocks 38, 40 or 72, 86. The sheet allows very heavy pressure to be applied to the end portions of the sole throughthe springs 32, 92, without danger of causing any local condensations or hard spots to be formed in the sole. The rubber also acts very effectively to grip the end portions of the sole and prevent their slipping during the operation of stretching the sole and forming the intermediate shank portion of the sole.

the sole to be stretched.

With the sole in the position shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the shank portion of the sole has been substantially lengthened since the portion of the sole between the blocks 40 and 86 is longer than the horizontal distance between the blocks. It will also be seen that besides stretching the shank portion of the sole the heel portion of the sole has been 05- set with respect to the plane of the forepart of the sole a distance substantially equal to the distance the forepart and heel part of a sole must be relatively displaced when the sole is applied to the shoe, that is, a distance equal to the height of the heel. It is desirable that the shank portion of the sole have a transverse curvature and that the margins of the shank portion be permanently displaced toward the flesh side of the sole so that they will lie close to the upper when the sole is placed in position onthe shoe. To eflect this step in the method, the block 50 is brought into operation in the manner described. As: shown in Fig. 6, the lower face of the block 50 is given an exaggeration of the shape it is desired to impart to the shank portion of the sole. When the block 50 is depressed in the manner described, it engages first the margins of the shank portion, depresses them out of the plane of the central portion of the shank, further stretches the shank portion and imparts to the shank portion the desir d transverse and longitudinal curvatures, In

the operation of depressing the margins of the shank out of the plane of the central portion of the shank, the edges of the shank will, of course, receive the greatest amount of stretching and the block 50 is so shaped and the movement imparted to it so regulated that the edge portions of the margins of the shank will be stretched beyond the limit of elastic recovery but within the limit of their tensile strength. After the operation of the block 50 upon the shank, the rod 24 is first released to unclamp the forepart of the sole and then the block 72 is released to unclamp the rear part.

It has been found that a sole thus treated may be incre a size in length and be given a permanent shape which not only greatly facilitates the attachment of the sole to the shoe, but also reduces or eliminates the levelng and shank beating operations usually performed. Moreover, in the wear of the shoe 'it is found that even after long use and repeated wettings the margins of the shank will remain close to the upper without displaying the usual tendency to draw awav from it. V

The method may also be very advantage-- fit the bottom of the last so that it will not 2. That method of treating soles which consists in controlling movement of regions adjacent to the shank, and then permanently stretching the margins of the shank relatively to the central portion of the shank without compression of the shank.

3. That method of treating soles which consists in restraining from movement portions of the sole adjaccntto the shank, and then permanently elongating the margins of the shank relatively to the central portion of the shank without'compression of the shank.

4. That method of treating soles which consists in impregnating the sole with moisture, controlling movement of portions of the sole adjacent to the shank, and then perma-' nently elongating the margins of the shank relatively to the central portion of the shank.

5. That method of treating soles which consists in controlling movement of portions of the sole adjacent to both ends of the shank,

and stretching the margins of the shank beyond the limits of elastic recovery thereby permanently to shape the shank portion of the sole to a lateral curvature.

6. That method of treating soles whic consists in impregnating the sole with moisture to render it pliable, controlling m.ove ment of portions of the sole adjacent to both ends of the shank, and stretching a margin of the shank morethan its central portion and beyond its limit of elastic recovery.

7. That method of treating soles which consists in impregnatinga sole with moisture to render itpliable, restraining portions of the sole adjacent to both ends of the shank from movement, and stretching the margins of the shank beyond their limit of elastic recovery permanently to elongate them.

8. That method of treating soles which con-- sists in impregnating a sole with moisture to render it pliable, clamping the end portions of the sole, and stretching the unclamped margins of the sole beyond their limit of elastic recovery thereby elongating the margins.

9. That method of treating soles which consists in impregnating the sole with moisture, restraining portions of the sole adjacent to each end of the shank portion from movement, and manipulating the sole in a manner to effect permanent elongation of the margin of the shank.

10. That method of treating soles which Sill consists in subjecting the sole to the action of moist'ureto render the sole pliable and applying tension to the margins and edges OI the shank portion of the sole suhicieht to eflect permanent elongation thereof relatively to its central portion whereby the shank may be given a transverse curvature in attachment to the shoe without showing a tendency to return toward its original hat condition.

11. That method or treating soles which consists in impregnating a sole with moisture, restraining portions OI the sole adjacent to the shank portion against movement relatively to the shank portion while leaving the shank free, and displacing each margin of the shank portion relatively to the central longitudinal line of the shank by pressure applied to one face of each margin to effect permanent elongation of the margin.

12. That method of treating soles which consists in controlling movement of portions of the sole adjacent to each end. of the shank portion toward the shank portion and displacing the margins of the shank portion out of the plane of the central longitudinal line of the shank to stretch the margins within the limit of their tensile strength;

13. That method of treating soles which consists in subjecting a sole to the action of moisture to render the sole'pliable, controlling movement of portions of the sole adjacent to each end of the shank portion and displacing the margins of the shank portion relatively to the central longitudinal line oit' the shank to eii'ect permanent elongation ot' the marginal portions so that the shank may be given a transverse curvature in attachmerit to the shoe without tendency to return toward its original fiat condition.

lei. That method of treating soles which consists in impregnating the sole with moisture, securing portions or the sole adjacent to the shank portion against movement toward the shank portion, leaving the shank portion free, and displacing each margin of the free shank portion relatively to the central longitudinal line of the shank by pressure applied to one face of each margin to sheet permanent elongation of the margin, 4

15. That method of treating soles which consists in impregnating the solewith moisture, securing portions of the sole adjacent to the shank portion against movement toward the shank portion, leaving the shank portion free, and manipulating the sole in a manner to efiect permanent elongation of the margin of the shank relatively to the longitudinal central portion thereot.

16. That method of treating soles which consists in controlling movement of portions of the sole adjacent to each end of the shank and-displacing-the shank portion of the sole .to elongate the sole as a whole by stretching the shank.

17. That method of treating soles which consists in wetting the sole, clamping the 'rorepart, clamping the heel part,'and moving the clamped portions apart to stretch the shank portion of the sole.

zu. .'lhat method or treating soles which consists 111 clamping the ioi'epart, clamping the heel part, and relatively moving the clamped portions'in a direction perpendicular to their original plane to elongate the sole.

2i. .lhat method or treating soles which consists in clamping the torepart, clamping the heel part, and substantially moving the clam ped heel part relatively to the other part in a direction perpendicular to the original plane or the sole to give the intermediate shank portion an angular relation to the clamped parts such as it is to have in the hnished shoe.

zzli'lhat method of treating soles which consists in clamping the torepart, clamping the heel part, and moving one-oi the clamped parts relatively to the other part in a direo= tion perpendic ular to the original plane of the sole to give the intermediate shank portion an angular relation to the clamped parts such as it is to have in the finished shoe and to elongate the shank portion.

25, That method or treating soles which consists in clamping the i'orepart and the heel part separately, displacing the shank portion outot its original plane to stretch. it, and displacing the margins of the shank portion more than its central portion to give the shank a transverse curvature.

24:. That method of treating soles which consists in impregnating a sole with moisture to render it pliable, clamping the end portions of the sole, displacing the shank portion of dill tilt

the. sole to elongate the sole as a whole by stretching the shank, and stretching the margins ot the shank beyond the limit of their elastic recovery, thereby permanently elongating the margins relatively .to the'centr portion of the shank.

25. -'lhat method of treating soles which consists in clampin the heel part, moving one of the clamped parts relatively to the tion perpendicular to the original plane of the sole to give the intermediate sha portion an angular relation to the clamped parts such as it 18 to have in the finished shoe and the forepart, clamping other part ina directo elongate the shank portion, and then displacing the margins of the shank portion beyond the position of its central portion to stretch the margins of the shank more than the central portion.

26. That method of treating soles Which consists in clamping the forepart, clamping the heel part, moving one of the clamped parts relatively to the other part in a direction perpendicular to the original plane of the to give the intermediate shank portion an angular relation to the clamped parts such as it is to have in the finished shoe and to elongate the shank portion, displacing the shank portion out of the plane determined by said relative movement further to stretch the shank and import longitudinal curvature thereto, and displacing the margins of the shank portion further in the same direction to impart thereto a transverse curvature and further to stretch the margins Within their tensile strength but beyond the limit of recovery.

27. In an apparatus for treating soles, the combination of means for controlling movement of regions of the sole adjacent to the shank, the shank being left free, and means for displacing the margins of the shank relatively to the central portion of the shank.

28. In an apparatus for treating soles, the combination of means for restraining portions of the sole adjacent to the shank for movement longitudinally of the sole, and means for permanently elongating the margins of the shank relatively to thecentral portion of the shank.

29. In an apparatus for treating soles, the combination of means for controlling movement of portions of the sole adjacent to the shank, the shank portion being free, and

means for permanently elongating the margins of the shank relatively to the central portion of the shank.

30. In a machine for treating soles, the

ment of portions of the sole adjacent to the shank, the shank portion being free, and

means engaging the margins of the shank and acting to stretch them beyond the limits of elastic recovery, thereby permanently shaping the shank portion of the sole.

31. In an apparatus for stretching soles, the combination of means for controlling movement of the forepart of the sole, means for controlling movement of the heel part of the sole, and means for moving one of said controlling means relatively to the other to apply lengthwise tension to the shank.

32. In an apparatus for stretching soles, a clamp for the forepart of the sole, a clamp for the heel part, and means for moving one clamp relatively to the other to apply length- Wise tension to the shank of the sole.

33. In an apparatus for stretching soles, the combination of a clamp for the forepart of the sole, a separate clamp for the heel part of the sole, the. shank portion being .un clamped and means acting to displace the margins of the unclamped portion of the sole out of the plane of the central portion of the shank.

34. In a machine for stretching soles, a clamp for the forepart of the sole, a clamp for the heel part, the intermediate portion being unclamped, and means acting to displace the unclamped portion of the sole out of the planes of the forepartand heel part.

35. In an apparatus for stretching soles, a clamp for the forepart of the sole, a clamp for the heel part, a rubber sheet between the sole and the clamping surfaces of the forepart and heel part, and means for moving one clamp relatively to the other to stretch the shank of the sole.

36. In an apparatus for stretching soles, a clamp for the torepaftof the sole, and a clamp for the heel part, a sheet of inherently yielding material between the sole and the clamping means and extending over the unclamped portion, and means acting through the yielding means covering the shank portion to stretch the margins of the shank.

37. In an apparatus for stretching soles, the combination of a clamp for the forepart of the sole, a clamp for the heel part of the sole, a rubber sheet between the sole and the clamping surface at the forepart and at the heel part, and means for moving one clamp relatively to the other perpendicularly to the plane of the sole to stretch the shank of the sole.

38. In an apparatus for treating soles, means for restraining the forepart of the sole from moving endwise, means for restraining the heel part of the sole from moving end- Wise, and means for elongating the margins of the intermediate shank portion beyond the limit of elastic recovery.

39. In an apparatus for treating soles, the combination of means for restraining from approaching movement portions of the sole adjacent to the shank portion, and means for permanently elongating the margins of the shank portion relatively to its central portion.

40. In an apparatus for stretching soles, the combination of means for restraining from approaching movement portions of the sole adjacent to the shank portion, and means for displacing the margins of the shank portion out of the plane of its central portion so as to stretch them beyond the limit of their elastic recovery.

41. In an apparatus for treating soles, the combination of clamps to hold the end portions of the sole, a plunger arranged to engage the shank portion of the sole, andmeans for operating the plunger to elongate the sole as a Whole by stretching the shank and to displace the margins of the shank relatively to its central portion.

42. In an apparatus for treating soles, the combination of a clamp to hold the end portions of the sole, a plunger arranged first to engage the margins of the shank portion of the sole to displace them out of the planeof the central portion of the sole and then by further movement to displace the shank portion relatively to the clamped end portions to elongate the shank as a Whole.

43. In an apparatus for treating soles, the combination of a clamp for the forepart, a clamp for the heel part, and means for moving one of the clamps after both ends of the sole have been clamped relatively to the other A in a direction perpendicular to the original plane of the sole to give the intermediate shank portion an angular relation to the clamped parts such as it is to have in the finished shoe.

44. As an article of manufacture, a shoe sole having a margin of its shank portion in a permanently stretched and elongated condition, another portion of the shank being stretched to a less extent.

45. As an article of manufacture, a shoe sole having the margins of its shank portion in a permanently stretched and elongated so condition, the central portion of the shank being stretched to a less extent.

46. As an article of manufacture, a shoe sole having the margins of its shank permanently elongated With respect to the central .5 portion of the shank, the shank portion being uncompressed.

47 As an article of manufacture, a shoe sole having its forepart molded to the transverse and longitudinal shape desired and of 49 uniform texture free from condensed areas,

'and having the margins of its shank permangntly elongated Without compression there- 0 In testimony whereof We have signed our 5 names to this specification.

HERMAN A. DAVENPORT. NATHAN F. HOPKINS.

CERTIFICATE or connection.

Patent No. 1,772,038. Granted August 5, 1930, to

.HERMAN A. DAVENPORT ET AL. i

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, lines and 76 claim 18, for "portion" read portions; pageo, line ii, claim 26, after the article "the" first occurrence, insert the word sole, and line 17, for "import" read impart; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office;

8 igned and sealed this 17th day of February, a. n. 1931.

A J. Moore,

( Acting @ommissioner of Patents. 

